A former Derbyshire council leader has been banned from being a councillor for three years after an investigation found he bullied officers.

The Standards Board for England said David Nuttall, 67, had behaved in an "unfair, demeaning, belligerent and intimidating" way while in office.

The incidents took place at North East Derbyshire District Council in 2003.

The council's current administration said bullying would not be tolerated in any way.

'No respect'

The board's investigation discovered Mr Nuttall had repeatedly shouted at a council officer during meetings in June 2003 and was abusive and aggressive.

It also found in the lead up to council elections in April 2003 he had bullied a council employee for not having a poster on his van and threatened to have him sacked.

The Independent Adjudication Panel for England, which handed out the ban on Thursday, said he had breached the code by "failing to treat others with respect, bringing his office and authority into disrepute".

In a joint statement, the district council's current leader, Graham Baxter, and acting chief executive, James Gravenor, said: "The council does not tolerate bullying or intimidating behaviour under any circumstances.

"We have policies and procedures in place to prevent and deal with breaches of our member and officer codes of conduct and protocols, should they occur."